---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ciprian Nastase Date: 2008/9/5 Subject: [romania-economics] News: Georgia must be whole and free To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From Helsinkitimes.fi - with some interesting comparison between South Ossetia and Kosovo. Georgia must be whole and free Friday, 05 September 2008 09:39 Ambassador Barbara McConnell Barrett was nominated on 13 March, 2008 by President George W. Bush as Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Finland. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 29th April and sworn in by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on 30 April, 2008 at Arizona State University. She arrived in Finland in May. *** The violence that erupted last month in Georgia stunned much of the world. We, the United States of America, join the EU in condemning Russia's decision to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and in calling on other states not to recognize these Georgian separatist regions. We also agree with the EU's conclusion that Russia has a choice to make in order not to isolate itself from Europe. We agree with the EU that the six-point cease-fire agreement must be fully implemented, and we echo the EU's call for military forces to withdraw to the lines held prior to the outbreak of hostilities. In a scene that recalled the worst days of the former Soviet Union, Russian tanks, troops, and planes swept across the border of one of its small neighbors. Although the neighbor was Georgia, not Czechoslovakia, and the tanks bore Russian, not Soviet markings, the scene was chillingly reminiscent of 1968. Through its actions Russia has now put its international reputation and aspirations at risk. During the conflict Russian forces and "irregulars" committed wanton destruction, leaving behind huge numbers of displaced persons and broken infrastructure. Russia's actions in Georgia were not those of a well-intentioned peacekeeper, and are not acceptable in the 21st century. Russian troops have refused to leave, and have dug into positions not only in the disputed areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but also deeper into Georgia, all in violation of Georgia's territorial integrity. EU President Nicolas Sarkozy and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb worked to secure a ceasefire and the withdrawal of all forces from the conflict zone. On August 19, NATO foreign ministers issued a strong statement in support of Georgia's territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty, as well as its democratically elected government. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the statement also "sent a message to Russia that NATO will not permit a new line to develop in Europe between those states that are a part of the transatlantic structures and those states that still aspire." More recently, the September 1 extraordinary EU summit demonstrated transatlantic unity in support of Georgia's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and reconstruction. Georgia's separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have had a long history of tension. During the past year, Moscow has steadily intensified pressure on Georgia economically, politically, and militarily, launching trade embargos and suspending air and ground transport links. In the spring, Russia issued a government order to increase its official ties with the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, completely bypassing the Georgian authorities. Russia's challenges then became more ominous. A Russian fighter jet shot down a Georgian drone over Georgian airspace, Russian combat troops and artillery began moving into Abkhazia, Russia sent railroad construction troops into Abkhazia, incidents of violence occured in South Ossetia, including an attempted assassination of a pro-Georgian South Ossetian leader. Throughout this period, U.S. officials urged the Russian and Georgian governments to exercise restraint and find a way to resolve their differences peacefully. On August 7, after Georgia responded to shelling of Georgian villages that came from Russian "peacekeeper-controlled" territory in South Ossetia and moved to reclaim parts of South Ossetia, an overwhelming Russian force swarmed through South Ossetia and into Abkhazia, and other parts of Georgia. Following more than a week of hostilities the Russian and Georgian governments signed a ceasefire agreement brokered by the EU and the OSCE under Finnish leadership. The world still waits for Russia to honor the ceasefire agreement: Russian forces have not withdrawn to their pre-August 7 positions as specified in the agreement, and the "buffer zones" that Russia is trying to create have no basis in the agreement. On August 26 Russian President Medvedev announced Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, an act that violates Georgia's territory and numerous multilateral resolutions on Georgia, including UN Security Council resolutions, which Russia has supported. Russia's act is inconsistent with the terms of the ceasefire agreement signed less than two weeks prior. Even while claiming a "Kosovo precedent," Russia has actively avoided mentioning the extensive involvement of the international community in Kosovo, especially the UN administration of Kosovo for almost ten years, that was a central element in the resolution of the Kosovo crisis. Unlike in Kosovo, there is no UN-sanctioned international administration in Abkhazia or South Ossetia. There is no true international security force operating in these territories under UN authorization or mandate. There are no security guarantees to protect the different ethnic communities, and Russia has failed for nearly two decades to create conditions for the return of refugees. On the contrary, Russia has deliberately avoided using available avenues to bring resolution to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Kosovo was a unique case and not a precedent for any other conflict. In 1999, following the ouster of Milosevic's military from Kosovo, the UN Security Council set the framework for resolving Kosovo's status in UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244. UNSCR 1244 was adopted without any dissent (China abstaining) on June 10, 1999, to address the situation in Kosovo that resulted from Milosevic's actions. Elements of UNSCR 1244 include: denying Serbia a role in governing Kosovo; authorizing the establishment of an interim UN administration; providing for local self-government; and envisioning a UN-led political process to determine Kosovo's future status. UNSCR 1244 contemplated independence as a possible outcome of that process. None of these elements existed in Georgia. Thus, Kosovo was never a breakaway territory like South Ossetia or Abkhazia, but had a status recognized by the UN Security Council. An extended period of international administration aimed at building Kosovo's capacities for self-government was followed by a UN-led process of negotiation including development of a comprehensive plan, carefully crafted by a Special Envoy of the Secretary General, Finland's Martti Ahtisaari, to provide for a foundation for a multi-ethnic society. Kosovo has committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Ahtisaari plan to protect and promote minority communities and religious and cultural heritage, and to provide for the meaningful and active participation of Kosovo-Serb communities in local government. This process preceded Kosovo's independence in 2008. Finally, Abkhazia's pre-conflict population was about 17% ethnic Abkhaz, with the plurality – 45% – ethnic Georgians. Most of those ethnic Georgians were driven out of Abkhazia as internally displaced persons. In South Ossetia, the ethnic Georgian population, representing approximately 35% of the population, has also been largely driven away from the region and are currently internally displaced persons within Georgia. After these forced emigrations, an election among those remaining in Abkhazia, no matter how monitored, could not be considered fair or valid. If Russia wants to repair the damage to its reputation – and to its relations with the rest of the world- it must: • honor its commitment to respect the territorial integrity of Georgia: South Ossetia and Abkhazia are parts of Georgia. • respect the ceasefire its president has signed. • remove from Georgia the troops it introduced after August 6. • permit international monitors and a more robust presence in South Ossetia. • allow humanitarian aid to be delivered. The United States and its partners and allies will continue to stand with the people of Georgia. We will continue to support Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Russia needs to make better choices. Russia has isolated itself by its actions and is jeopardizing its standing in the international community. The world is still waiting for Russia to honor the ceasefire agreement. The international community stands in solidarity during this crisis.
